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Original poster

Ethics regarding Instamums and huns

999 replies

BurberryIsSo2000 · 24/05/2018 17:14

Homeisthecalm here, I think it's suitable to start a new ethics thread.

Since clearly, the one from yesterday isn't really about ethics but Clemmie.

Thanks all,

Keep it as nice or as stingy as you like Grin

I'll start off by saying things should be clearly marked 'ad' or 'gifted'

Although the term gifted gives me the rage

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
KingJonUmm · 02/06/2018 07:45

No one with less thank thousands of followers should be concerned about putting their DC name on Instagram.

You're not an 'influencer'. No one knows you. You're not popular so what's the issue? Hmm

mrtumblesmum · 02/06/2018 07:45

FODs post fawning over Clemmie is sooo cringeworthy - amongst other superhuman qualities "she has a mean sense of fashion" and has helped "women across the globe" wow....really...? Grinwhat a deluded pair.

mrtumblesmum · 02/06/2018 07:57

I actually saw one instamum managing to write "advetorial" rather than "ad". Instantly didn't read the post to see what she was then flogging but good on her nevertheless.

mrtumblesmum · 02/06/2018 07:58

Personally I find it really disturbing to see a mum sat bawling because she's had a difficult time with the kids/is tired/ needs a break/ feels emotional/ can't cope with kids arguing etc. We've all been there and we all need support but I think it's really unfair on the kids (whose lives we know inside out). I just think imagine what your kids would think if they saw you crying to thousands of people because of them?

Who did this? Sounds a bit extreme!

mrtumblesmum · 02/06/2018 08:17

On FODs account (yes, overly invested right now!), there's a recent pic of Clemmie looking defeated showing the twins her phone, one twin has their head on the table and the other is yawning. FOD is apparently busy reading papers on his clipboard.
So genuine question...who is taking the photo here, how lucky that the camera was just there to capture that child's yawn with Clemmie gazing into space just at the right time, how could convenient he had a hand spare to capture that shot whilst busy working.
I just can't buy into this staged shit whatsoever, how come so many do?

Bakingnovice · 02/06/2018 08:38

Another common 'story' is the blank face whilst kids screaming/ bawling/ calling for you in background. Go tend to your child instead of trying to show how hard your life is. It is not normal to get your phone out and story your children having meltdowns or arguing or crying for a cuddle acting up cos they are tired! And who would find this interesting to watch. I've unfollowed so many accounts because of this.

And the endless plugs for products they are 'gifted'...it's an ad. Call it what you want.

Wearelocal · 02/06/2018 09:13

Mrtumble fod is reading a menu. They are having lunch. It's not a difficult angle to take a pic. Agree it's awfully staged though.
It was Candace Brathwaite who had the melt down in a story. She was quite sparky then switched to crying. She had her baby in her arm while she was doing it. I unfollowed because I was so uncomfortable with what I saw.

mrtumblesmum · 02/06/2018 09:27

Oh haha I missed that they were in a restaurant - seems a lot less weird now!!!

nipersvest · 02/06/2018 09:45

fod's most recent images don't feature the kids, neither do his stories, I wonder if its a conscious attempt to feature them less?

Boredandtired · 02/06/2018 09:48

Someone I'm going to unfollow who has around 13k followers and seems to now be getting the freebies, always marks her days out and breaks in stories as #presstrip which as she's not a journalist is really irritating and I always read it 'pre-strip'. So many of them seem to think they are so important...
Agree with above, deluded.

Boredandtired · 02/06/2018 09:50

@nipersvest after the comments made by his wife on here and the time out (one would assume to re-evaluate) I would think this is a conscious choice. Like after there was critism about the slightly iffy posts with hapless parenting which were borderline funny/bit careless, there was a definite shift.

Wearelocal · 02/06/2018 10:03

Lisa Dawson has amusingly featured ASA links for advice on use of #ad....from 2015/2016.

nipersvest · 02/06/2018 10:38

I saw that too, thought maybe they had issued some newer info, but realised I'd seen those links before.

nipersvest · 02/06/2018 10:39

If the OD's do move away from the kids being the primary feature, good for them. As market leaders in the instaparenting accounts, its a good example to set and others will follow their lead.

MarshaBradyo · 02/06/2018 10:41

I’d be impressed if they do too and hopefully others will think about it

Boredandtired · 02/06/2018 12:39

Agreed ^^
I've noticed the meldrums getting some comment grief about taking the eldest child out of school for the third holiday this year. And FOD. Had some fairly disparaging comments about his persil #ad. But generally his were buffered by some fans. But posts pointing out how pointless all the helpful stain removal tips were as he didn't care it was a paid ad.
It's interesting how the tide is turning. But due to the masses of followers I doubt it will impact.

mrtumblesmum · 02/06/2018 12:46

Only his last 3 posts haven't had kids in them? It doesn't really "work" without them though does it.

Hate the way he asks a really inane question to 'engage his audience' then doesn't even bother responding! Such lazy tripe..

jamoncrumpets · 02/06/2018 12:57

They all do that asking thing. It's so fake. And yet people respond in their droves.

MarshaBradyo · 02/06/2018 13:02

It’s so odd that people respond to inane questions
I do wonder what the motivation is, what do people get out of it
(I know I’m posting here but there’s a semblance of a chat)

Boredandtired · 02/06/2018 13:06

@marshabradyo I was guilty of this in the past and partly why it peed me off so much when I realised it was marketing. I would comment a helpful comment, I don't even know why.

mrtumblesmum · 02/06/2018 13:06

I think they're advised to do it to engage with their audience and build followers but I just find it cringeworthy. It's like "half term this week, lots of (smug) nature walks for us, what's everyone else doing"...

Then nothing, because they're on to their next inane rambling

Fivelittleduckies · 02/06/2018 13:06

Some of the responses might be genuinely useful to others...or some people might like to engage just for the sake of it too. No harm done there really, no?

Wearelocal · 02/06/2018 13:11

it is virtually the same post as 28th march - where I picked up the tip to do up the duvet buttons. I read them I even if fod clearly doesn't!

Boredandtired · 02/06/2018 13:12

@fivelittleduckies this is true I've had some helpful tips from comments, however I guess from the viewpoint the poster is answering the OP it is annoying that it's not genuine it's just to get engagement up.

Fivelittleduckies · 02/06/2018 13:15

@bored I can see how you perceive it that way. For me, I see the OP more as sparking a discussion - so I don’t feel to fussed at how involved they then get in the comments. Often times the comments end up in the hundreds which surely must be fairly painstaking to have to keep up with...